Trust Me Jack

This is a story set in a bank in a small town sometime in the 1880s. Bushrangers burst into the bank with greater motives than just to rob it. Innocent victims are caught up in the saga and as it unfolds it reflects the tensions that develop between the Haves’ and the Have-nots’ in times of recession; and how they can turn into desperation and sometimes tragedy.

Characters:

Jack Frazer driven by revenge for the cause of his father’s suicide.

Joe Frazer she idolizes her brother and like her brother blames the bank for her

father’s death.

Frank Daley the surly member of the gang who with the personality of a fish.

Danny Price the newest member of the gang with the ability to laugh in the face

of adversity.

Mr Gilbert the pompous bank manager.

Mrs Car a baker’s assistant and a battler

Jessie Car Mrs Car’s daughter who is obsessed with the exploits of the Frazer

Gang.

Mrs McIntosh wealthy landowner with a big influence in the community

Hamish McIntosh a mummy’s boy desperate to sow his wild oats.

The Tart would be a lovely girl if she was sober.

Scene 1:

Mr Gilbert, the bank manager is closing the bank when suddenly Mrs Car and her daughter Jenny rush in. Jessie carries a notebook.

CAR: Oh, Mr Gilbert, could I please make a transaction?

GILBERT: I’m sorry Mrs Car, The bank is closed. The clerks have gone home and

I’m the only one left.

CAR: But it’s a matter of some urgency.

GILBERT: The bank must adhere strictly to its time of business — for security

reasons.

As Mrs Car looks distressed at this reply Mrs McIntosh glides into the bank looking regal. Immediately Gilbert responds to her call.

MCINTOSH: Ah, Mr Gilbert, I’m glad I caught you. I have some business I’d like you to

attend to. It’s not urgent but I’d like to get it out of the way.

GILBERT: Er, er, certainly Mrs McIntosh.

CAR: Just a minute, Mr Gilbert; you told me the bank is closed.

GILBERT: This is a special circumstance.

CAR: She just said it was not urgent.

MCINTOSH: Excuse me! Keep out of my business.

CAR: What about my business? He’s just refused it. Isn’t my money good

enough?

GILBERT: Mrs McIntosh has a lot of money in this bank.

The Frazer Gang bursts in. Jack Frazer stands in the middle of the floor brandishing a gun in each hand.

JACK: Bail up!

Jack’s accomplices take their positions. Frank watches the door, Joe covers the women and Danny goes over to the bank manager.

DANNY: Keep your hands visible.

Danny frisks Gilbert.

JACK: Do as you’re told and nobody gets hurt.

MCINTOSH: What is this?

JOE: Be quiet!

DANNY: He’s clean; I’ll check the back.

Danny disappears into another part of the bank while Jack turns his full attention Gilbert.

JACK: Open the safe!

GILBERT: I’ll not open the safe for you or anyone else.

JESSIE: You’re the Frazer Gang!

The women gasp. Gilbert stiffens and Jack turns to Jessie

JACK: How do you know that?

JESSIE: I recognize you from your pictures. You’re Jack Frazer.

CAR: Be quiet Jessie.

Jack turns his attention to Gilbert.

JACK: Open the safe before I shoot you dead.

Danny comes back into the room.

DANNY: It’s clear out back.

JACK: (To Gilbert) Once more only; open the safe!

GILBERT: I will not.

Jack puts the gun to Gilbert’s head.

DANNY: What’s going on Jack?

JACK: Mr hero wants to throw his life away.

DANNY: Oh, is that all.

JOE: He won’t open the safe.

GILBERT: You’re nothing but common criminals.

JACK: And I suppose you’re not?

GILBERT: What do you mean by that?

DANNY: Listen Mr Bank Manager…

GILBERT: My name is Gilbert.

DANNY: Gilbert. Do yourself a favour. Frank over there loves blowing safes to bits.

So it matters not whether you open the safe with a key or he opens it with

explosive; it will be just more civilized with the key.

MCINTOSH: Well — that shows just what fools you are. One loud bang and the whole

town will come to our aid.

JOE: Nobody’s coming.

MCINTOSH: The constables will be here directly.

JACK: Danny.

DANNY: (Taking keys from his pocket and waving them) The constables are tucked

up snuggly in their cells.

MCINTOSH: I’m sure your presence is being telegraphed to other towns as we speak.

FRANK: I cut the wires.

JACK: You can be assured this was well planned.

MCINTOSH: Is that so?

JACK: Yes, woman; it is!

Frank goes to look out the back of the bank. He is keen to blow the safe.

FRANK: (To Jack) Shall I blow it?

JACK: ( Pointing his gun at Gilbert)Ask him.

JOE: Just blow it, Frank.

GILBERT: Don’t you touch it.

Frank pushes his way past Gilbert and disappears out the back of the bank.

MCINTOSH: You will not get away with it.

JACK: And what would you know?

MCINTOSH: I’m a person of standing in this community. When I get out of here I will

have all the law enforcement in the district after you.

JACK: You’re out of touch woman. They are out there looking for us now; and

with little success, obviously.

There is a loud explosion and everyone jumps.

MCINTOSH: Oh, my God!

JESSIE: (Impressed) He did it! He blew the safe!

Frank appears with wads of money.

FRANK: There’s plenty more!

CAR: (Pleading) Mr Frazer. My hard earned savings are in that safe. Please

don’t take them. I was paid off today. That’s all I’ve got till God knows

when.

Danny goes out back and comes back with bags of money.

JACK: How much?

CAR: Fourteen pounds two shillings and six pence.

Jack peels off a few notes and hands them to Mrs Car.

JACK: I suggest you find another bank. It is my intention to destroy this one.

GILBERT: Why this bank?

JOE: We have a special affection for Barkley Banks.

MCINTOSH: You will swing from the end of a rope for this; all of you, you criminals!

JACK: I’m no more of a criminal than you are, Mrs Some-standing-in-

the-community; and him with his bank.

MCINTOSH: You talk offensive rubbish Frazer.

JACK: It’s offensive to see someone like you believing you’re better than the rest

of us, just because you’ve got money. And his bank treating the little

people with contempt.

GILBERT: I must protest on behalf of the bank Mr Frazer.

JOE: Yeah, well we’re protesting on behalf of my father.

GILBERT: What has your father got to do with this?

JOE: My father was forced off his land by your bank. Land he’d struggled for

all his life. Your greedy, heartless bank took it rather than give him grace

with his repayments.

GILBERT: I don’t understand.

JOE: Neither did he. He couldn’t understand how the bank could call in its loan

like it did. He couldn’t understand why the bank couldn’t give him a fair

go. Give him chance to get back on his feet instead of chopping his legs

from under him.

GILBERT: I, I’m sure I could look at the situation.

JACK: The bank killed my father. I’ll not rest until I bring this bank to its knees.

A guilty and confused silence settles over the group.

JESSIE: I thought your father killed himself.

JOE: (Angrily) What do you know about my father?

JESSIE: (Frightened) I, I just heard.

DANNY: What else have you heard?

JESSIE: (To Danny) I heard that you joined the Frazers when you and they went to

rob the Diamond Creek bank at the same time.

JACK: Famous already, Danny.

DANNY: I must be doing something right.

JESSIE: The police say you are an enigma and that you will go to any lengths to

keep it that way

DANNY: Will I now?

JESSIE: They say that after the Diamond Creek robbery you waited in an ambush

for a black tracker following your trail and you shot him dead because he

was getting too close. They say that is why the traps can’t get the black

trackers to track you.

Suddenly a voice comes from outside the bank.

Voice: Frazer! Give it up Frazer! Come out in single file with your hands in the

air.

The gang members are stunned. Danny rushes to the window.

DANNY: Guns everywhere!

Jack moves to the window and peers out. Danny rushes out to the back door and appears again almost immediately.

DANNY: Same out back!

Jack is beginning to rage and he too rushes to the back door. Danny goes back to the window. Jack comes back grabs Gilbert by the coat and throws him over to where the women stand.

JACK: Joe! Frank! Watch ‘em!

DANNY: There must be fifteen out there. Gun barrels everywhere.

Jack paces deep in thought.

VOICE: Let the people go Frazer! Then come out peacefully.

JACK: (Going to the window) Get stuffed!

Jack opens the door a little and fires his gun a couple of times.

Lights down on scene 1.